For newborn Madeline Duzan, the availability of blood products immediately after her birth and in the months that followed were critical to her survival. Now, at 2 and a half, she is a healthy and active child.

It’s because of Madeline Duzan, and thousands of blood recipients that the Rhode Island Blood Center and Dunkin’ Donuts joins in the national celebration of blood donors.

The Rhode Island Blood Center and Dunkin’ Donuts are showing their appreciation for blood donors during January, National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, by offering a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to all individuals who are present to donate blood at a donor center or blood drive.

National Blood Donor Month was initiated in January 1970 as a way of assuring a safe and adequate blood supply at a time of year when blood collection is typically more difficult because of school vacations, holidays, inclement weather and illness.

“Dunkin’ Donuts is a valuable partner in the success of the Rhode Island Blood Center, and we are very pleased to partner with them once again,” said Frank Prosnitz, communications manager for the Rhode Island Blood Center. Prosnitz noted how it’s not only about a partnership in January, but one that spreads throughout the year, and includes numerous blood drives at Dunkin’ Donuts stores throughout the state.

“Giving blood is an easy way to give the gift of life,” said Todd Wallace, Dunkin’ Brands Northeast field marketing director. “We hope that receiving a pound of delicious Dunkin’ Donuts coffee will help encourage our neighbors to reach out this January and donate blood.”

For Madeline, who was born weighing just 4 pounds, 3 ounces and with an obvious blockage in her throat, the quick work of a medical team brought in from Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, to William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn., where she was born, and the availability of blood products saved her life.

The team from Women & Infants immediately transferred Madeline to Providence, as her mother, Danielle, recovered at Backus. A day later, parents and daughter were reunited for what was a harrowing few months that involved four surgeries over eight months.

Madeline is among many children and adults who rely upon blood donation for survival.

According to the AABB, a national blood banking association, someone needs blood in this country every two seconds. Each day, patients across the country receive some 39,000 units of blood. There are more than 14 million blood transfusions annually, given to people who are accident victims, are undergoing surgery, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.

In our community, patients in hospitals and treatment facilities require up to 280 pints of blood every day, according to the Rhode Island Blood Center.

The Rhode Island Blood Center has donor centers in Providence, Warwick, Narragansett, Woonsocket and Middletown, and holds several blood drives throughout the state and in nearby Massachusetts every day. To find a blood drive or donor center in your neighborhood or to make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-283-8385 or log onto edonor on the Blood Center’s website at www.ribc.org.